Automatic consequences with conditional と

The idea

Attach と to a non-past plain verb or い-adjective, or to noun/な-adjective + だ. It links a condition to a regular consequence, a route, or an unexpected discovery.

Examples

• このボタンを押おすと、ドアが開あきます。When you press this button, the door opens.
• 春はるになると、花はなが咲さきます。When spring comes, flowers bloom.
• 雨あめが降ふると、この道みちはぬれます。When it rains, this road gets wet.
• 右みぎに曲まがると、駅えきがあります。Turn right and you will find the station.
• 夜よるになると、猫ねこは眠ねむります。When night comes, the cat sleeps.
• 窓まどを開あけると、鳥とりがいました。When I opened the window, there was a bird.

Watch out

For a request or intention in the following clause, choose a pattern such as たら instead; conditional と normally does not introduce that kind of main clause.

Try it yourself

1. Complete the sentence using と; choose the appropriate form. このボタンを＿、ドアが開あきます。（押おすと／押おしたら） When you press this button, the door opens.

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   押すと

   「押すと」 — When you press this button, the door opens. Attach と to a non-past plain verb or い-adjective, or to noun/な-adjective + だ. It links a condition to a regular consequence, a route, or an unexpected discovery.

2. Complete the sentence using と; choose the appropriate form. 春はるに＿、花はなが咲さきます。（なったと／なると） When spring comes, flowers bloom.

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   なると

   「なると」 — When spring comes, flowers bloom. Attach と to a non-past plain verb or い-adjective, or to noun/な-adjective + だ. It links a condition to a regular consequence, a route, or an unexpected discovery.

3. Complete the sentence using と; choose the appropriate form. 右みぎに＿、駅えきがあります。（曲まがると／曲まがったと） Turn right and you will find the station.

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   曲がると

   「曲がると」 — Turn right and you will find the station. Attach と to a non-past plain verb or い-adjective, or to noun/な-adjective + だ. It links a condition to a regular consequence, a route, or an unexpected discovery.

Use it today

Write two new sentences using と; explain your choices and check them against the table.